FEW-HIT WONDERS (Day 3)

[NightTrain]

Inspired by the recent "Two-Hit Wonders" thread, I've been pouring over my copy of BILLBOARD'S TOP POP SINGLES, 1955-1996, and writing down those artists who placed anywhere from 2-4 singles total in the pop top forty. Here are the C's:

THE CADILLACS: Speedoo (#17, 1956), Peek-A-Boo (#28, 1959)

JOHN CAFFERTY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND: On The Dark Side (#7, 1984), Tender Years (#31, 1984), Tough All Over (#22, 1985), C-I-T-Y (#18, 1985)

AL CAIOLA & HIS ORCHESTRA: The Magnificent Seven (#35, 1960), Bonanza (#19, 1961)

CAMEO: Word Up (#6, 1986), Candy (#21, 1987)

C & C MUSIC FACTORY: Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) (#1, 1991), Here We Go (#3, 1991), Things That Make You Go Hmmmm… (#4, 1991), Do You Wanna Get Funky (#40, 1994)

CANNED HEAT: On The Road Again (#16, 1968), Going Up The Country (#11, 1969), Let’s Work Together (#26, 1970)

ACE CANNON: Tuff (#17, 1962), Blues, Stay Away From Me (#36, 1962)

TONY CAREY: A Fine, Fine Day (#22, 1984), The First Day of Summer (#33, 1984)

CARL CARLTON: Everlasting Love (#6, 1974), She’s A Bad Mama Jama (#22, 1981)

VICKI CARR: It Must Be Him (#3, 1967), The Lesson (#34, 1968), With Pen In Hand (#35, 1969)

PAUL CARRACK: I Need You (#37, 1982), Don’t Shed A Tear (#9, 1987), One Good Reason (#28, 1988), I Live By The Groove (#31, 1989)

DAVID CARROLL & HIS ORCHESTRA: Melody of Love (#8, 1955), It’s Almost Tomorrow (#20, 1955)

MINDY CARSON: Wake The Town And Tell The People (#13, 1955), Since I Met You Baby (#34, 1957)

CLARENCE CARTER: Slip Away (#6, 1968), Too Weak To Fight (#13, 1968), Snatching It Back (#31, 1969), Patches (#4, 1970)

MEL CARTER: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (#8, 1965), (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings (#38, 1965), Band Of Gold (#32, 1966)

SHAUN CASSIDY: Da Doo Ron Ron (#1, 1977), That’s Rock & Roll (#3, 1977), Hey Deanie (#7, 1978), Do You Believe In Magic? (#31, 1978)

THE JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH: Hey Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You (#31, 1967), Troglodyte (#6, 1972), The Bertha Butt Boogie (#16, 1975)

GEORGE CATES & HIS ORCHESTRA: Autumn Leaves (#35, 1955), Moonglow & Theme From “Picnic” (#4, 1956)

CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD: Give Me Just A Little More Time (#3, 1970), (You’ve Got Me) Dangling On A String (#38, 1970), Everything’s Tuesday (#38, 1970), Pay To The Piper (#13, 1971)

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: Theme From “Dr. Kildare” (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight) (#10, 1962), Love Me Tender (#21, 1962), All I Have To Do Is Dream (#14, 1963)

THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS: Time Has Come Today (#11, 1968), I Can’t Turn You Loose (#37, 1968)

CHAMPAIGN: How ‘Bout Us? (#12, 1981), Try Again (#23, 1983)

THE CHAMPS: Tequila (#1, 1958), El Rancho Rock (#30, 1958), Too Much Tequila (#30, 1960), Limbo Rock (#40, 1962)

CHANGING FACES: Stroke You Up (#3, 1994), Foolin’ Around (#38, 1994)

THE CHANTELS: Maybe (#15, 1958), Every Night (I Pray) (#39, 1958), Look In My Eyes (#14, 1961)

HARRY CHAPIN: Taxi (#24, 1972), W-O-L-D (#36, 1974), Cat’s in the Cradle (#1, 1974), Sequel (#23, 1980)

TRACY CHAPMAN: Fast Car (#7, 1988), Give Me One Reason (#3, 1996)

THE RAY CHARLES SINGERS: Love Me With All Your Heart (#3, 1964), Al-Di-La (#29, 1964), One More Time (#32, 1964)

SONNY CHARLES & THE CHECKMATES LTD: Black Pearl (#13, 1969), Put It In A Magazine (#40, 1983)

THE CHARMS: Hearts of Stone (#15, 1955), Ling, Ting, Tong (#26, 1955), Ivory Tower (#11, 1956)

CHEECH & CHONG: Basketball Jones (#15, 1973), Sister Mary Elephant (Shudd-Up!) (#24, 1974), Earache My Eye (#9, 1974)

CHERRELLE with ALEXANDER O’NEAL: Saturday Love (#26, 1986), Never Knew Love Like This (#28, 1988)

DON CHERRY: Band of Gold (#4, 1956), Wild Cherry (#29, 1956), Ghost Town (#22, 1956)

NENEH CHERRY: Buffalo Stance (#3, 1989), Kisses On The Wind (#8, 1989)

CHILLIWACK: My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) (#22, 1981), I Believe (#33, 1982)

THE CHIMES: Once In A While (#11, 1960), I’m In The Mood For Love (#38, 1961)

THE CLASH: Train In Vain (Stand By Me) (#23, 1980), Rock The Casbah (#8, 1982)

JIMMY CLIFF: Wonderful World, Beautiful People (#24, 1970), I Can See Clearly Now (#18, 1993)

CLIMAX BLUES BAND: Couldn’t Get It Right (#3, 1977), I Love You (#12, 1981)

PATSY CLINE: Walkin’ After Midnight (#12, 1957), I Fall To Pieces (#12, 1961), Crazy (#9, 1961), She’s Got You (#14, 1962)

THE CLOVERS: Love, Love, love (#30, 1956), Love Potion No. 9 (#23, 1959)

CLUB NOUVEAU: Lean On Me (#1, 1987), Why You Treat Me So Bad? (#39, 1987)

EDDIE COCHRAN: Sittin’ In The Balcony (#18, 1957), Summertime Blues (#8, 1958), C’mon Everybody (#35, 1958)

DENNIS COFFEY & THE DETROIT GUITAR BAND: Scorpio (#6, 1971), Taurus (#18, 1972)

COZY COLE: Topsy II (#3, 1958), Topsy I (#27, 1958), Turvy II (#36, 1958)

JUDE COLE: Baby, It’s Tonight (#16, 1990), Time For Letting Go (#32, 1990)

DOROTHY COLLINS: My Boy—Flat Top (#16, 1955), Seven Days (#17, 1956)

CON FUNK SHUN: Ffun (#23, 1978), Too Tight (#40, 1981)

ARTHUR CONLEY: Sweet Soul Music (#2, 1967), Shake, Rattle & Roll (#31, 1967), Funky Street (#14, 1968)

THE COOKIES: Chains (#18, 1962), Don’t Say Nothin’ Bad (About My Baby) (#7, 1963), Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys (#33, 1963)

JILL COREY: I Love My Baby (My Baby Loves Me) (#21, 1957), Love Me To Pieces (#11, 1957)

CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE: Treat Her Like A Lady (#3, 1971), Too Late To Turn Back Now (#2, 1972), Don’t Ever Be Lonely (A Poor Little Fool Like Me) (#23, 1972), I’m Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore (#37, 1973)

DAVE “BABY: CORTEZ: The Happy Organ (#1, 1959), Rinky Dink (#10, 1962)

DON COSTA & HIS ORCHESTRA: Theme From ‘The Unforgiven’ (#27, 1960), Never On Sunday (#19, 1960)

ELVIS COSTELLO: Everyday I Write The Book (#36, 1938), Veronica (#19, 1989)

GENE COTTON: You’ve Got Me Runnin’ (#33, 1977), Before My Heart Finds Out (#23, 1978), You’re A Part Of Me (#36, 1978), Like A Sunday In Salem (The Amos & Andy Song) (#40, 1978)

DON COVAY: Mercy, Mercy (#35, 1964), I Was Checkin’ Out, She Was Checkin’ In (#29, 1973)

THE COWSILLS: The Rain, The Park & Other Things (#2, 1967), We Can Fly (#21, 1968), Indian Lake (#10, 1968), Hair (#2, 1969)

BILLY “CRASH” CRADDOCK: Rub It In (#16, 1974), Ruby Baby (#33, 1974)

FLOYD CRAMER: Last Date (#2, 1960), On The Rebound (#4, 1961), San Antonio Rose (#8, 1961), Chattanooga Choo Choo (#36, 1962)

JIMMY CRAWFORD: Cindy’s Birthday (#8, 1962), Your Nose Is Gonna Grow (#14, 1962), Rumors (#12, 1962), Proud (#29, 1963)

CRAZY OTTO: Glad Rag Doll (#19, 1955), Smiles (#21, 1955)

CREAM: Sunshine of Your Love (#5, 1968), White Room (#6, 1968), Crossroads (#28, 1969)

THE CRITTERS: Mr. Dieingly Sad (#17, 1966), Don’t Let The Rain Fall Down On Me (#39, 1967)

CROWDED HOUSE: Don’t Dream It’s Over (#2, 1987), Something So Strong (#7, 1987)

BURTON CUMMINGS: Stand Tall (#10, 1976), You Saved My Soul (#37, 1981)

THE CURE: Just Like Heaven (#40, 1987), Love Song (#2, 1989), Friday I’m In Love (#18, 1992)

CUTTING CREW: (I Just) Died In Your Arms (#1, 1987), One For The Mockingbird (#38, 1987), I’ve Been In Love Before (#9, 1987)

THE CYRKLE: Red Rubber Ball (#2, 1966), Turn-Down Day (#16, 1966)

[kikiek]

1. Would Procol Harum be one? I know of Conquistador and

Lighter Shade of Pale. I love Conquistador.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. I knew the Cyrkle one from the other thread

Because I bought a CD of their songs a few years ago, and those two were the only listen-able ones on the whole thing the rest were absolutely terrible.

Another one would be the Searchers: Love Potion #9, Needles and Pins, Sugar and Spice. The rest of the songs were awful.

And how about Manfred Man Do Wah Diddy, Sha la la, and MUCH later blinded by the light (earth band). Not much else.

One hit wonder: The Music Machine - Talk Talk

[acmavm]

3. You have Jimmy Crawford. Wasn't it Johnny Crawford? NOT being

critical. In fact, you amaze me with your musical knowledge.

[NightTrain]

6. I think you're right.

It was late; I was tired. :shrug:

[gmoney]

4. Put down the reference book...

Did you actually type in all that stuff?

By the way, any book that considers Elvis Costello, The Cure, Patsy Cline, the Clash, Cream, Crowded House and Eddie Cochran to be "Few Hit Wonders" because they don't have a lot of chart singles is pretty pointless in MY book.

Let alone equating these top-notch career artists with crap like Richard Chamberlain singing the theme from Dr Kildair, Club Nouveau, and C+C Music Factory...

Billboard pop charts have zero relevance to artistic merit... so unless you're an accountant for a record label (posting to an accountant board) I'd save yourself the keystrokes.

[NightTrain]

7. We're not talking about artistic merit.

We're talking about what went Top 40 and what did not. Artistic merit is purely subjective; chart success is not.

[Red State Rebel]

5. Patsy Cline!

There will never be another voice like that...

Wasn't Burton Cummings also the lead singer for the Guess Who?

Props to the Cowsills - Jr. High crushes....

ahhhh the memories...

[Kat45]

8. When I think of Jimmy Cliff, I think of "The Harder They Come"

It surprises me that it isn't on the list.

[NightTrain]

9. Unfortunately, it didn't chart in the U.S.

Wish it had, though. Great song!

[Kat45]

10. Really? I'm surprised.

I used to hear it all the time on the radio. But of course I'm in the Boston area, and in the days before corporate radio we had some really good radio around here. And the movie, "The Harder They Come," played around here for a long time. I love that song! I liked reggae a bit back then, but when it gained more popularity in later years, I didn't like it any more (though I still love that Jimmy Cliff song). In my mind, that song (and movie) and Jimmy Cliff are inextricably connected; I can't think of one without the other.

[Droopy]

11. I'm surprised Patsy Cline's "Crazy" only made it to #9. n/t